Pike County leaders blame national park superintendent for pipeline detour

Thursday

Jun 7, 2012 at 12:01 AM

Angry over a gas pipeline route detouring around the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, Pike County Commissioners are calling for the transfer of park Superintendent John Donahue. The strong sentiment stems from the Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company plan to cut a new seven-mile pipeline loop through unspoiled forest and private properties in Pike in order to avoid one mile in the park.

BETH BRELJE

Angry over a gas pipeline route detouring around the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, Pike County Commissioners are calling for the transfer of park Superintendent John Donahue.

The strong sentiment stems from the Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company plan to cut a new seven-mile pipeline loop through unspoiled forest and private properties in Pike in order to avoid one mile in the park. Tennessee already has a pipeline on that mile of park land, and has had a right of way there allowing for pipeline improvements since 1955, a decade before the park existed.

Tennessee talked with Donahue in 2010 about using its existing route, but Donahue discouraged the company, warning that it would require legislation by the U.S. Congress, and that the National Park Service would oppose it.

"Politicians don't usually take stances like this, but just one person is standing in the way of this," Commissioner Rich Caridi said. "Mr. John Donahue has not been a friend to this county. That he is going to allow seven miles of this county to be disturbed: We find it absolutely repulsive."

Caridi later said if anyone in the public started a petition to remove Donahue, he would sign it, twice.

Commissioner Karl Wagner, an attorney by trade, held up a deed. "This agreement gives (Tennessee) the right to lay this pipeline, (in its right of way) period. Donahue has been very deceptive about not being able to put a pipeline in," Wagner said.

The comments were made in front of a full audience of interested parties at the regular commissioners meeting Wednesday.

"His lack of concern for people in this area is evident," Commissioner Matt Osterberg said. "Mr. Donahue should probably leave this region."

Donahue was not at the meeting, but he responded to the comments in a statement requested by the Pocono Record.

"There was no request to use the existing pipeline right of way. The NPS has no authority to issue a new right of way for any new oil or gas pipelines. Only Congress can do that. As far as personal attacks, I have no comment. I have done my job protecting the interests of the 300 million Americans who own this nationally significant unit of the system."

Although the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission acknowledged that the park route could have less environmental impact, last week the commission granted permission for the more destructive seven-mile loop. After a 30-day appeal period is finished on June 27, the company can start on the project.

The crowd at the commissioners' meeting asked how to stop the loop and force the project onto Tennessee's right of way.

Some said they were unaware of the loop until last week, when stakes marking the path of the pipeline on Cummins Hill Road in Milford were noticed.

Commissioners said there is not much more they can do, although they will continue to try. It will take someone who is an official party or intervener to the case to request that FERC order a rehearing on the case.

The issue is at the federal level, requiring the attention of Congress.

What do political representatives have to say about the issue?

"Senator Toomey's office has worked with federal regulators to relay constituents' concerns about this project and will continue to do so," U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey's spokeswoman Rebecca Neal wrote in a statement to the Pocono Record.

The written response was similar from John Rizzo, press secretary for U.S. Sen. Robert Casey Jr. "Our office is aware of the situation and will remain in contact with appropriate officials and constituents as we move forward," Rizzo wrote.

Bill Tighe, chief of staff to U.S. Rep. Tom Marino, said Marino has had numerous meetings with local residents, county commissioners, representatives of Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company and the National Park Service, including Donahue.

"The reality is, the NPS's insistence that this not go through the park makes this politically infeasible," Tighe said. "The congressman completely supports the appeal of the decision, and the congressman will probably weigh in with comment to FERC himself. Ultimately, we hope the NPS will work with us to come up with legislation to allow the pipeline to go through the park in the existing right of way."